John Lahr
Listen to the interview (approx. 43 min.) or download it.
Graduated in 2016 with a major in Music Business. Principal instrument: bass guitar.
Position: Director of Strategic Partnerships (Business to Business sales) at Daisy Labs, a high-tech start-up company which hosts multi-media content of professional and academic conferences. People pay for access to the content, and Daisy Labs shares the revenue with the conference organizers. John’s job is to reach out to conferences and set up these deals. He’s the one salesperson at this 9-person operation, though he is well-supported.
Overview: While at Berklee, John was heavily involved with Berklee ICE. He wanted to work in the startup world, and while interested in venture capital, felt it good to get some regular work experience first. After graduation, he spend four months searching for positions, interviewing, and networking. Ironically, it was a friend–a fellow-Berklee graduate, who reached out to him. The friend had been hired as marketing director for Daisy Labs and figures John had what it took to be successful in a sales role, including the design thinking program he’d learned at ICE–and John was hired on his friend’s word. The first day of work, he was sat down as they explained everything he’d have to do. John puts in over 60 hours/week, which includes research and refining his own techniques.
You can see John’s LinkedIn profile here.
Choice Quotes: “I wanted to make sure the work I was doing was one I could learn a lot from, where I could grow as an operator. I wanted to have some level of impact on the business, not just be ’employee n+1′.
This job has been a ride! I’m new, and have had to lean a lot very quickly. I had a lot of awkward phone calls early on, but I recorded them all and listened to myself to figure out how to better and over time I settled in.”
“I never thought I”d get into sales, but I enjoy working with people a lot. Also, it’s not often they’re approached by someone saying ‘Hey how can I help you make money?’ I like being able to work with them to set up a good solution.”
“Personally, I love working with a small team at an early stage startup! I’m completely in control of my dept. but well supported by veterans in the field. I’m at least 10 years younger than everyone else–everyone helps me learn and get up to speed. I love that team dynamic. Also, I’m talking to CEOs, so am cultivating a really valuable professional network.”
“I had an amazing experience at Berklee. It prepared me for a lot of the uncertainty that I have to face in the startup world. Also, music already went through the digital transition–where the industry was disrupted by technology. Everyone is looking to us for solutions on how to deal with it. As a Berklee graduate, you have the answers–go give it to them.”
See the full index of Successful Berklee Grads.